§ Captain Orrasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he has applied for financial assistance from the European Social Fund for any Northern Ireland projects; and if he will give details.
§ Mr. David HowellThe United Kingdom Government have submitted an application for assistance from the European Social Fund in 1973 towards half the cost of training and resettlement schemes supported by the Government. The application includes an element in respect of Northern Ireland schemes. The European Commission has yet to decide whether this application is consistent with its own interpretation of the Community legislation governing the fund, and it is therefore not yet clear how much assistance will be obtained.